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In December 2025, I had the privilege of covering one of the most professionally organized basketball events I have seen in India – the Harish Sharma 3x3 Basketball Tournament, held at the iconic Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Delhi.
The idea to pitch for this tournament came to me just before I was about to leave for Kerala. I had one weekend free. And I thought — why not pitch and see if something converts? Sometimes, as a freelance sports photographer in Delhi NCR, you just have to take that chance.
I’m glad I did.
Remembering Late Mr. Harish Sharma
Remembering Late Mr. Harish Sharma
Late Mr. Harish Sharma was a passionate contributor to Indian basketball whose efforts helped nurture and promote the sport at the grassroots level. His dedication to developing young talent continues to inspire the basketball community even today.
The tournament is conducted by his family, led from the front by his daughters Yashasvika Sharma and Yuvika Sharma, along with his wife Rupam Harish Sharma, who plays a core and instrumental role in organizing the event. Their commitment and hands-on involvement were visible in every aspect of the tournament.
From One Call to a Signed Commitment
From One Call to a Signed Commitment
Eureka and I got on a call where I proposed my offering as a professional sports event photographer in Delhi. Even though I was a single person planning to cover the entire tournament, they trusted my portfolio and signed me on.
That trust meant everything.
A Tournament of National Scale
A Tournament of National Scale
The Harish Sharma 3x3 Tournament was truly top-notch.
70+ men’s teams
Around 30–40 women’s teams
Players from across India
National and international athletes
Internationally competing para-athletes
The event was hosted at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, one of the premier indoor venues in the country. The facilities were among the best you can expect for a basketball tournament in India.
3x3 basketball is an emerging format — fast, intense, and exciting. I often compare it to T20 cricket. Shorter games, faster pace, and high energy. Each match lasted roughly 20 minutes, but the intensity was non-stop.
Star-Studded Presence
Star-Studded Presence
The tournament had a strong lineup of chief guests and dignitaries including Ashish Sood, Ajay Sood, Aarti Mehra, Sudhanshu Mittal, vijay Goyal, The Deputy CM of Delhi - Parvesh Verma, and many others
There were Arjuna awardees and top figures from the Basketball Federation of India present as well.
Ex-Indian basketball captain Divya, Prashanti Singh, Parminder Singh, Sajan Singh Chima, Vishesh Raghuvanshi, Mukesh Kalia, Suman Sharma, Aadhav Arjuna and others were part of the event ecosystem, making it truly star-studded.
I also met Sandeep Singh, owner of Indian Sports Live channel, who was covering the YouTube live streams. Being an ex-player, he understands the game deeply and is doing commendable work promoting basketball in India.
The Real Challenge: Three Courts. One Photographer.
The Real Challenge: Three Courts. One Photographer.
Now comes the real story.
There were three courts running simultaneously. Every 20 minutes, a new game. And on top of capturing action, I had to take official lineup photographs of all participating teams.
The organizers wanted players photographed in the official tournament jerseys. Sounds simple?
Not at all.
Players would get ready at the last moment. During breaks, they would practice. Sometimes one player would be missing. Sometimes they would ask me to come back later. The biggest issue: Winning team stays on court while the Losing team leaves immediately
That meant if I missed the losing team right after the whistle, the opportunity was gone.
Still, with constant help from Divya and several coaches and representatives on the court, I managed to get lineup photographs of almost all teams.
70–80% of my time went into lineup and chief guest photography. I wanted to capture more creative action shots, but sometimes as a tournament photographer, you prioritize what the organizers need most.
That is part of being a professional sports photographer.
Shooting Indoors – The Technical Side
Shooting Indoors – The Technical Side
Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium is excellent, but like most indoor courts, lighting was slightly on the lower side.
I made a key decision.
Instead of using my 70–300mm lens, I relied on my 50mm prime lens with a wide aperture.
Many might wonder — how do you cover basketball with a 50mm?
But that lens gave me:
More light
Faster shutter speeds
Sharper images
Better subject isolation
Since flash was not allowed during gameplay (which makes sense), I had to rely entirely on available light. For chief guests, I also did not use flash due to time constraints. In hindsight, mixing flash for certain VIP portraits might have enhanced those frames further.
But overall, the 50mm turned out to be one of my best decisions for indoor sports photography.
The Moments That Made It Worth It
The Moments That Made It Worth It
I captured:
Players mid-air going for hoops
Slam dunks
Intense one-on-one defense
Close semifinal and final moments
The semifinals and finals were tight contests that could have gone either way. Eventually, Team NoLook, featuring members from the Indian national team, won both the men’s and women’s championships.
The energy was electric.
There was a vibrant mascot — Titu, an elephant — adding character to the event. There were wheelchair athletes competing, showcasing true inclusivity. Students displayed their basketball skills. There was even an action-packed Bhangra performance that elevated the ambiance.
This wasn’t just a tournament. It was a celebration of basketball.
What This Tournament Means to Me
What This Tournament Means to Me
As a sports photographer in India, this tournament became a benchmark.
Managing:
Multiple courts
Lineups
VIPs
Fast-paced action
Indoor lighting challenges
All alone — and still delivering — gave me immense confidence.
I genuinely believe I did justice to the scale of the event. And I hope this sets the foundation for more basketball tournament photography assignments in the future.
If you are organizing a basketball tournament, 3x3 event, or sports championship in India and are looking for a dedicated sports event photographer who understands both action and organization requirements — I would be glad to collaborate.
Sports photographers must understand that tournament partnerships demand comprehensive coverage—not just action shots, but also chief guests, participants, and crowd energy
Interested in more such tips - Read through my other blogs and pages
Looking for a professional basketball photographer in Delhi NCR who nails slam dunks, team lineups, VIP moments, and tournament energy? Let's collaborate on your next 3x3 event!
About the Author
About the Author
Jithin Thomas is a professional sports photographer based in Delhi, with extensive experience covering cricket, basketball, polo, football, wrestling, tennis, and athletics events. Accredited for international tournaments in 2025, his work focuses on anticipation, positioning, and technical precision. He regularly works in challenging lighting conditions and delivers sharp, impact-driven visuals tailored for media and digital promotion.
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